Manager's eUpdate for 12/23/08

I am pleased to provide you with highlights of some of our recent activities that reflect the County Commission's strategic priorities for our region. As always, I welcome your comments either by email (ksimon@washoecounty.us) or phone (775-328-2000). If you do not wish to receive this update by email, please let Community Relations Director Kathy Carter know at kcarter@washoecounty.us. Thank you.

Katy Simon
Washoe County Manager

All vehicles and heavy equipment have been re-checked to insure proper fluids, antifreeze, wiper fluid, fuel, etc. are in place and ready for the expected severe cold this week. Systems that have water, like sweepers, or have the potential to build up condensation, such as air tanks on heavy trucks and trailers, are being drained nightly. We have also re-checked our diesel fuel deliveries to our Incline facility and our cardlock locations, and we have tested the fuel to minus 20 degrees. We are ready for winter!

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Washoe County has placed conex trailers at Lazy 5, Rancho San Rafael and Bartley Ranch Regional Parks. The trailers are equipped with 10,000 sandbags each, shovels, gloves, vests, flags and signage to support sandbagging operations in the event of flooding. If needed, Washoe County Road crews will deliver sand to the established locations, which will be staffed by trained CERT volunteers. Supplies and equipment will also be staged at the City of Reno Corporate Yard, the Sparks Corporate Yard, and the County`s Longley Lane Corporate Yard.

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An evacuation drill/fire alarm at Ninth and Wells on December 11 tested employee readiness. Employees cleared the entire complex completely in only 13.5 minutes, improving our time to respond by a full two minutes from the last drill.

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In cooperation with Washoe County Regional Animal Services, Search and Rescue, and other affiliated organizations, our volunteer Community Emergency Response Team is putting together an Animal Rescue Team and will be conducting exercises on animal evacuations, including large stock animals, early in 2009.

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Christmas tree recycling begins the day after Christmas (Friday, December 26) at Bartley Ranch and Rancho San Rafael Regional Parks from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Sunday January 11, 2009. Tree recycling is done in partnership with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful to help preserve landfill space, prevent illegal dumping, and provide a Green source of mulch for weed abatement and other park projects. A $3 per tree donation is requested.

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Working with UNR, Washoe County hosted a 2-day workshop for webmasters and others involved in the creation of their government websites, which featured a national expert on the subject of ADA compliance of websites. The speaker was funded thanks to a $25,000 grant secured by UNR. Accessibility for persons with disabilities is a critical component of our public service mission and the Board`s adopted diversity and ADA compliance plans.

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Staff is working on an e-waste recycling event planned for Saturday, 1/31/09 at the Reno Livestock Events Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other public entities have also been invited to participate, and we expect widespread community involvement.

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More than 75 suggestions from employees have been posted to our intranet website since the Town Hall Meeting on December 4. All suggestions are being responded to and followed up on, and responses to common questions are being posted on the County Budget intranet website weekly. We see this as a critical component of our open and accountable communication with employees and citizens during this challenging time.

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Labor Relations staff and our employee associations are in formal discussions on additional incentives that may be offered to employees to voluntarily leave the organization, providing their separation results in substantial net savings to the County over the next two years. In addition, as required by collective bargaining statutues which apply to the County, the employee associations are being asked to consider wage/hours and/or benefit concessions in order to help reduce the possible need for lay-offs in our current $10 million budget reduction. Departments will advise us by December 29 of their specific plans to reduce their budgets and meet their targeted resources. Emails were sent to all employees and department directors this week outlining the process and advising that employees have until January 16 to let us know of their intent to voluntarily leave the organization with the approval of their department and Finance. Budget reduction plans will be presented to the Board on January 27th. Any concessions approved by the bargaining units will also be applied to management employees as well.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Improve Public Safety, Security and Health

Preserve and Enhance Our Quality of Life

Improve Regional Collaboration

Improve Government Efficiency and Financial Stability